Celebrity Cruise Offers Extensive Activites on Transatlantic Cruises

From Riedel comparative wine glass workshops to cooking competitions, from Rosetta Stone language lessons to iPhoto classes, from wellness workshops to pool volleyball with the ship’s officers, the popular Celebrity Life activity program offers a multitude of ways to enjoy a modern luxury experience on every Celebrity Cruises vacation. This year, the premium cruise brand is making its already rich Celebrity Life lineup even more robust on its transatlantic sailings and calling it “Celebrity Life Plus,” amplifying the “Taste,” “Learn,” “Revive” and “Play” themes known for exciting and entertaining vacationers year-round.

“Experienced cruisers know that transatlantic cruises offer an ideal opportunity to spend luxurious days at sea learning new things, exploring new tastes, recharging, or simply having fun,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Celebrity Cruises. “The introduction of Celebrity Life Plus takes everything our guests already love about these sailings and about Celebrity Life and marries the two, resulting in the most comprehensive, enriching, exciting and fun long cruises, offering incredible speakers and other exclusive activities. Never before have we had such a wide array of offerings and activities on one sailing.”

In a single transatlantic cruise, Celebrity Life Plus will offer cruisers as much immersion as a theme cruise, but while actual theme cruises focus on one area of interest, Celebrity Life Plus offers a robust breadth of activities focused on multiple themes.

Vacationers who wish to explore their love of food and wine will revel in the opportunity to hear from guest chefs and wine educators, who will present cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, book signings, food-and-wine pairing dinners and more, on each transatlantic cruise.

Those who wish to sharpen their mind will take pleasure in learning from dynamic speakers from Smithsonian Journeys, the program known for often unrivaled expertise that provides Celebrity’s destination lectures on many of its regular cruises throughout the year. Astronomy experts David Hughes and Steve Maran will be onboard select sailings, as will art history expert Allison Jessing and Mark Kaufman, an expert in the burgeoning science of life beyond Earth.

Additionally, former Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter and Hall of Fame professional basketball player Nancy Lieberman will share their experiences in the world of sports.

Additional special interest speakers will include naturalists, oceanographers and guest artists. The first of these will be the first at-sea appearance by the renowned palette knife artist Graham Denison, a master of contemporary impressionism whose work has been prominently featured by The Walt Disney Company and other leading consumer brands. Denison will be on the first 2012 spring transatlantic sailing painting live in a studio setting, offering guests an interactive class and hosting question-and-answer sessions. Guests with an interest in bringing out their own inner artist can participate in additional interactive classes led by master artists from Miami Beach’s ArtCenter / South Florida. Classes will include jewelry making, mosaics, drawing, Chinese brush painting and watercolor.

Vacationers who wish to use their time onboard to focus on their wellness will enjoy Celebrity Life’s special fitness programming; Celebrity will introduce the popular Latin and internationally inspired dance-fitness class “Zumba Fitness” into its Celebrity Life Plus line-up. The program has over 12 million followers in 125 countries. Celebrity Life Plus will offer two classes a day, led by Zumba instructors who are part of the ‘Zumba Instructor NetworkTM” and who hold licenses to teach specialty Zumba classes – Zumba Gold (for the active older adult) and Aqua Zumba, which Zumba calls “the ultimate pool party.”

The cruises that will feature Celebrity Life Plus are:

• 14-night voyage on Celebrity Solstice, departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 15, 2012 and arriving in Barcelona, Spain on April 29
• 10-night cruise on Celebrity Eclipse, departing Miami, Florida on April 21, 2012 and arriving in Southampton, England on May 1
• 15-night cruise on Celebrity Constellation, departing Fort Lauderdale on May 5, 2012 and arriving in Amsterdam, Holland on May 20
• 14-night cruise on Celebrity Equinox, departing Fort Lauderdale on April 16, 2012 and arriving in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy on April 30
• 9-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, departing Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey on April 22, 2012 and arriving in Rome (Civitavecchia) on May 1
• 13-night cruise on Celebrity Eclipse, departing Southampton on October 27, 2012 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on November 9
• 14-night cruise on Celebrity Equinox, departing Rome (Civitavecchia) on November 26, 2012 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on December 10
• 15-night cruise on Celebrity Constellation, departing Southampton on November 30, 2012 and arriving in Miami on December 16
• 15-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, departing Rome (Civitavecchia) on December 1, 2012 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on December 16

Additional details are available at www.celebritycruises.com/celebritylifeplus. Select Celebrity Life Plus and Celebrity Life activities require a fee.

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Celebrity Cruise Places Solstice Class Ship in the Caribbean in 2012/13

Celebrity Cruises plans to send its four newest Solstice Class ships and two “Solsticized” ships to the Caribbean in the winter of 2012-13, giving vacationers multiple options for luxurious getaways in stylish spaces with gourmet cuisine, extraordinary service, and fun activities. In total, Celebrity will present 103 Caribbean sailings with 21 distinct itineraries visiting ports from three homeports, from November 2012 through April 2013.

Recognizing that people’s vacation time is precious, Celebrity has shaped a 2012-13 winter destination lineup that exemplifies the premium cruise brand’s focus on offering a multitude of ways for people to have the best vacation experience possible.Earlier this week, Celebrity announced to its Captain’s Clubloyalty program members that the first full season for its fifth Solstice Class ship, the 3,030-guest Celebrity Reflection, currently under construction, will be in the Caribbean. Three other Solstice Class ships will also offer Caribbean itineraries. Celebrity Constellation, which was “Solsticized” in 2010 to include many of the features of Celebrity’s award-winning Solstice Class, and Celebrity Summit, which will be “Solsticized” in early 2012, also will present vacationers with the opportunity to enjoy luxurious getaways in the region.

Members of Celebrity’s Captain’s Club will have the opportunity to be the first to secure space on Celebrity Reflection during her inaugural Caribbean season, as well as on a “9-Night Northern Europe inaugural debut” cruise in Europe, two Mediterranean sailings and one transatlantic sailing that will precede the ship’s official naming and an additional three-night Caribbean inaugural debut cruise. A special booking window for Captain’s Club members opened yesterday and will be available through April 19; more information is available on a special landing pageon Celebrity’s website.

Bookings will open to the general public on April 20, along with the full line-up of Caribbean bookings. That same winter, Celebrity also will offer a full season of cruises in Hawaii and the Panama Canal, along with a 13th season of its popular South America cruises. These will open for booking on April 21.

Recently, Celebrity announced that its Solstice Class flagship, Celebrity Solstice, will be the first Solstice Class ship to offer sailings in Australia/New Zealand, and that Celebrity Millennium will sail Celebrity’s first Asia season.


Award-winning Solstice Class experience provides premium Caribbean escape

By positioning its four newest ships and two of its Solsticized ships in the Caribbean in a single season, vacationers seeking luxurious accommodations, extraordinary service, gourmet cuisineand fun, enriching activities will have many choices.

* Celebrity Reflection will sail roundtrip from Miami, Florida on alternating seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries, departing on Saturdays.
* Celebrity Silhouette, which will debut in Europe later this year, will offer alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, departing from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida on Sundays. New to this itinerary in 2012-13 will be a different Western Caribbean lineup, as Celebrity is replacing calls to Roatan, Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico with calls to Labadee, Haiti and Falmouth, Jamaica.
* Celebrity Eclipse will sail 14-night roundtrip Southern Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale, plus one eight-night Eastern Caribbean sailing at the start of the season.
* Celebrity Equinox will present 10- and 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean” itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.
* Celebrity Summit will offer seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises with two alternating itineraries, departing on Saturdays from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Celebrity will add new venues and new AquaClass staterooms – a category Celebrity introduced in 2008 with the debut of Celebrity Solstice – when it Solsticizes Celebrity Summit in early 2012.
* Celebrity Constellation will present a series of four- and five-night cruises roundtrip from Miami.

Onboard luxury in Hawaii, Panama Canal, South America

Four Celebrity ships will offer vacationers the opportunity to explore Hawaii, the Panama Canal and South America in 2012-13, with a total of 29 sailings ranging from 11 to 17 nights in length and visiting 42 ports of call.

Celebrity will present a full season comprised of cruises in Hawaii and the Panama Canal. The 1,814-guest Celebrity Century will offer eight 15-night Hawaii sailings roundtrip from San Diego, California, as well as four 15-night Panama Canal cruises between San Diego and Fort Lauderdale.

Celebrity Millennium will offer two 15-night Panama Canal sailings between San Diego and Miami, as well as an 11-night Hawaii sailing from Ensenada, Mexico, to Honolulu, Hawaii.

After her first Australia/New Zealand season, Celebrity Solstice will offer an 11-night Hawaii sailing from Honolulu to Ensenada. Both 11-night voyages will include overnights in Lahaina and Honolulu.

Celebrity Infinity, which will be Solsticized later this year, will present five Panama Canal voyages: one will be 17 nights in length, from Seattle, Washington to Fort Lauderdale, and four will be 15 nights long, between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego.Celebrity will add new venues and new AquaClass staterooms – a category Celebrity introduced in 2008 with the debut of Celebrity Solstice – when it Solsticizes Celebrity Infinity later this year.

Celebrity Infinity’s South America season will feature a core offering of 14-night “Around the Horn” cruises between Valparaiso, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two of these will be Antarctica cruises. The season also includes a 15-night “double holiday” cruise on December 22, from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires, and an early-season 15-night Panama Canal and South America cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso.

Immersive cruisetours to add depth to South America experience

Vacationers who wish to deepen their experience in South America can take advantage of Celebrity’s cruise tour offerings, which combine select cruises with a three- or five-night pre- or post-cruise escorted land package.

A three-night Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls package will highlight both the city dubbed “the Paris of South America” and the second largest waterfall in the world. A five-night “Machu Picchu Explorer” package will include visits to Lima, Urubamba, and Santiago, Peru. In the Sacred Valley, guests will visit the ruins of Machu Picchu via a full-day trip on the Vistadome railcar.

Travelers seeking a more immersive South America experience can combine a cruise with both a pre-cruise and a post-cruise land package. All of these packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts and some additional meals.

Celebrity Cruises Announces 2011-2012 Winter Season Cruises

Hot on the heels of its recent announcement that all of its widely heralded Solstice-class ships will sail together in Europe in the summer of 2011, today Celebrity Cruises announced that the four stylish vessels also will glide through the waters of the Caribbean later that year and into early 2012. Cruisers can book most of Celebrity’s 2011-12 winter cruises and cruisetours beginning today.

“We believe that our 2011-12 winter destination portfolio brings to life the essence of our brand platform, ‘Designed for you,’” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Our guests told us that they wanted more variety in the Caribbean, so we not only sent all four of our newest ships, we also created a line-up of itineraries offering cruisers the opportunity to choose from a wide range of sailing lengths and destinations on our award-winning ships – all of which include Celebrity’s signature service, style and world-class cuisine.”

With Caribbean offerings on eight ships and itineraries ranging in length from four to 14 nights out of five homeports, discerning cruisers who seek a relaxing warm-weather getaway will have numerous ways to pamper themselves in style. “Firsts” in the season include not only the deployment of four modern, sophisticated Solstice-class ships to sail in the Caribbean, but also the availability of four- and five-night Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Millennium.

For the first time, a Solstice-class ship – Celebrity Silhouette, launching in 2011 – will sail from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey, offering cruisers throughout the Northeast easy driving access to a vacation on the newest ship in the line’s award-winning Solstice-class fleet. From November 2011 to April 2012, Celebrity Silhouette will sail 14 alternating Southern and Eastern Caribbean voyages of 12 nights in length. The Southern Caribbean itineraries will visit St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia and St. Maarten. Celebrity Silhouette’s Eastern Caribbean cruises include visits to San Juan, Labadee (Celebrity’s private-island destination in Haiti), St. Croix, St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Maarten.

Celebrity designed the Bayonne offerings as a result of guests and travel agents expressing a strong desire to experience a Solstice-class ship within driving distance from major Northeast metro areas. First booking rights went to members of Celebrity’s loyalty program, Captain’s Club, earlier this month. Today, these cruises – as well as Celebrity Silhouette’s summer 2011 Europe voyages – opened for booking by the general public.

Sister Solstice-class ship Celebrity Equinox also will offer long Caribbean itineraries in the winter of 2011-12, sailing 15 alternating 10- and 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean” cruises out of Fort Lauderdale. The 10-night line-up focuses on Southern Caribbean experiences, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, Dominica and St. Maarten. The 11-night cruises take cruisers into the Western Caribbean and Panama, with visits to Mexico, Belize or Honduras (depending upon itinerary), Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Grand Cayman.

Celebrity Constellation, which this month will undergo the brand’s first “Solsticizing” (refitting to include many of the most popular Solstice-class attributes, such as Tuscan Grille and Bistro on Five specialty restaurants, the relaxed-yet-hip hangout, Café al Bacio, and more), will present a series of 14-night Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale, from November 2011 through April 2012. Ports of call include Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

For the first time, Celebrity Century – which underwent a significant revitalization in 2006, including the addition of 314 new stateroom verandas, a Murano specialty restaurant and the first “Ice Martini Bar” at sea – will present a season of 12-night Eastern Caribbean sailings out of Baltimore. The Caribbean season will be bookended by two Hawaii “mini-seasons” – one in the fall and one in spring – and also will include two special Panama Canal sailings between Baltimore to San Diego. These itineraries will open for sale in the coming weeks.

Continuing to offer popular, port-intensive seven-night voyages will be Celebrity Summit, sailing in the Southern Caribbean on Saturdays, roundtrip from San Juan. Celebrity Summit also will offer guests the opportunity to use technology to share aspects of their Caribbean escape, as it will be retrofitted this May with a “Celebrity iLounge” mirrored after the one debuting on Celebrity Eclipse, the newest Solstice-class vessel launching later this month in Southampton, England. The Celebrity iLounge will replace the Internet Café on Celebrity Summit, and feature a retail area offering the latest products through Celebrity’s Authorized Apple Reseller status. The venue will be staffed by certified technologists who will offer contemporary online classes through the ‘Discover’ series of our inspiring and enriching ‘Celebrity Life’ experience. Also, early in the 2011-12 winter season, Celebrity Summit will join other Millennium-class ships in being “Solsticized.”

Joining Celebrity Summit in being retrofitted with a Celebrity iLounge next month is Celebrity’s flagship Solstice-class vessel, Celebrity Solstice, which will return to South Florida to offer roundtrip seven-night Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in the winter of 2011-12. These will be a series of 25 alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, including a special eight-night Eastern Caribbean holiday sailing on December 18 that will feature an extra sea day, giving cruisers even more time to enjoy Celebrity’s outstanding cuisine and extraordinary service. Celebrity Solstice also will present a one-time six-night Western Caribbean voyage on January 2, ideal for cruisers who wish to experience a Solstice-class ship in the Caribbean but have less than a week to spend at sea. Celebrity’s third Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Eclipse will return for the Caribbean for a second consecutive winter season in 2011-12, offering seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip out of Miami.

Cruisers seeking shorter Caribbean getaways in Celebrity’s signature style can experience four- and five-night cruises roundtrip out of South Florida on Celebrity Millennium, for the first time, when the 2,034-guest vessel takes over Celebrity Century’s previous five consecutive winter seasons of short Caribbean cruises. Sailing four- and five-night cruises roundtrip out of Miami, Celebrity Millennium will offer a total of 41 sailings with four distinct itineraries visiting a total of six ports.

Building on the variety that Celebrity continues to offer, the brand will continue to offer its popular year-round Galapagos Islands experiences on the 92-guest mega-yacht, Celebrity Xpedition. These all-inclusive voyages that feature naturalist-led excursions through the awe-inspiring region, include pre- and post-cruise stays in Quito, Ecuador. Celebrity Xpedition’s 2011-12 cruises opened for sale last month.

Celebrity will continue to sail even further south than the Galapagos Islands with a variety of itineraries in South America – a region will visit for the 12th consecutive year in the winter of 2011-12. From December through February, Celebrity Infinity will present 13-, 14- and 15-night cruises between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. These will be bookended between a 15-night repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso – including a trip through the Panama Canal – on December 3, and the reverse on March 11.

Celebrity Infinity’s line-up also includes a wide range of Panama Canal voyages lengthened from 14 to 15 nights. The Panama Canal voyages will now include the new port of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, and two-day Canal experience including a full day spent in the crossing and an extended (full-day) stay in Colon, Panama, allowing cruisers to spend more time in the region. Celebrity Infinity’s Panama Canal voyages between the U.S. East and West coasts will be offered in September and October 2011, and March and April 2012. Celebrity Millennium also will offer a 15-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego to Miami to reposition the ship from Alaska to the Caribbean, departing on September 19, 2011.

Cruisers who wish to make the most of their time in South America in the 2011-12 winter season can choose from a variety of cruisetours – escorted land tours offered pre- or post-cruise that are combined with the cruise itself for a longer, more in-depth destination experience. In South America, Celebrity offers several fully escorted land tours offered in combination with cruises departing from or arriving in Buenos Aires and Valparaiso. The five-day, four-night “Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls” package includes visits to a gaucho “estancia,” Buenos Aires’ San Telmo region, and the city’s trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood. The package also includes a short inland flight to Iguazu Falls, one of the continent’s most stunning natural wonders, where guests spend two days exploring the massive waterfalls during included tours encompassing Devil’s Throat, the lower and upper circuits of the Argentinean side of the falls, and a Zodiac ride along the lower Iguazu River. The six-day, five-night “Machu Picchu Adventure” package gives guests the opportunity to experience the Sacred Valley of the Incas in and around the Cuzco region, as well as the capital city of Lima. The package is highlighted by train travel to and from Machu Picchu, and over four hours of exploration time there. The experience also includes a tour of Cuzco and its walled Sacsayhuaman Inca area and the Cuzco Cathedral, as well as a city tour of Lima and several other activities that will enhance guests’ South America vacation experience. Several inland flights are included.

Celebrity has designed a variety of shore excursions to round out the cruise experience in the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and South America in 2011-12.

In the Caribbean, Celebrity has designed its line-up of shore excursions to give cruisers a way to unwind in tropical paradise through nature-based activities, and opportunities to experience local history and culture. Examples include:
· In St. Croix, “Carambola Beach Break” features snorkeling with tropical fish and turtles and over coral reefs
· In St. Maarten, “Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure Tour” presents an adventure course consisting of a pulse-pounding sequence of zip-lines, rope swings and ‘bridges' suspended from platforms mounted in the serene forest
· In Costa Maya, “Kohunlich and Dzibanche Mayan Ruins Combo” tour includes the majestic pyramids and manicured lawns at Dzibanche, plus the ancient multilevel Mayan city of Kohunlich, with its magnificent cahoon palms
· In Cozumel, “Mexican Cuisine Workshop Tasting” allows guests to cook fine traditional Mexican cuisine, guided by an experienced chef, before enjoying their creations

* From St. Lucia, “Coastal Cruise to the Pitons” presents the wonder and sights of Petit and Gros Pitons, which are over 2,600 ft. high.

From Machu Picchu to penguin-sighting, Celebrity’s South America and Panama Canal cruises are designed to highlight the region’s natural beauty and culture, and a variety of shore excursions offer a more in-depth experience.

* In Peru, “Cuzco and Machu Picchu Adventure” includes intensive exploration of the lost city of the Incas
* In Buenos Aires, “Estancia San Lorenzo Penguin Reserve and Punta Norte” tour pairs a visit to a Magellan penguin colony with lunch at a typical estancia
* From Puerto Montt, “Petrohue River Rafting” is an exhilarating class III-IV rafting trip down the Rio Petrohue River, one of Chile's glacial rivers
* In Colon, Panama, “Panama Canal Tour” lets guests experience the wonder of the Panama Canal from a different perspective – that of a ferry boat as it navigates the Miraflores Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks and Gaylard Cut.


For more information on Celebrity’s cruises, cruisetours and shore excursions, travelers are encouraged to visit www.celebritycruises.com/sailwithus.

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Celebrity Solstice and Equinox Win Conde' Nast Awards

October 21, 2009 – Celebrity Cruises has once again won top honors in one of the most trusted surveys of consumer travel preferences in the world. The prestigious Conde' Nast Traveler magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards ranked Celebrity number one in the new Mega-Ship Cruise Lines category, recognizing the widely heralded Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox.

More than 25,000 experienced travelers made their voices heard in the prestigious annual poll ranking more than 10,000 cruise lines, hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines and car rental agencies. Celebrity Cruises was among the honorees featured in a segment airing Monday on NBC’s Today Show to highlight what led to the number-one ranking.

"Winning first-place in the new mega-ship category is an incredible tribute to the style, design and service that have led to the phenomenal response our new Solstice Class continues to generate, and further validates our fleet's longtime leadership position in the premium cruise category," said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "We’re honored that the informed readers of Conde' Nast Traveler so appreciate the Celebrity experience."

No stranger to netting top honors, the Celebrity Cruises fleet as a whole has, for the past seven consecutive years, dominated the large-ship category in Conde' Nast Traveler’s "Top Cruise Ships in the World" survey published each February.

Cruise lines were rated on a five-point scale – excellent, very good, good, fair or poor – in seven categories: activities, cabins, service, design, food/dining, itineraries, and shore excursions.

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Celebrity Equinox Named in Formal Ceremonies

July 29, 2009 – In formal ceremonies today in the historic port of Southampton, England, before an audience of press, travel agents, and other special guests, Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship – Celebrity Equinox – was officially named.
After buglers and a bagpipe and drum corps opened the ceremony, followed by a piano rendition of the Beatles’ classic “Here Comes the Sun,” Richard D. Fain, Chairman of Celebrity Cruises and Chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., delivered the ceremony address. Fain praised the ship’s Godmother Nina Barough, CBE (Commander of the British Empire), and founder of the breast cancer charity “Walk the Walk.”

“Her story, her outspoken devotion to breast cancer causes, and her day-to-day life is a compelling example of the need to take our health and well-being seriously,” said Fain. “And all this paints a lovely picture of why we are so honored to have her as our Godmother.”

Celebrity selected Barough in recognition of her fervent devotion to raising awareness of breast cancer and her tremendous success in raising funds for the cause – $85-million to-date – through her organization’s “SunWalks” and “MoonWalks.” The four annual marathon walks in London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Newcastle attract thousands of people typically clad in decorated bras – the signature apparel for most participants.

“As with our Godmother of Celebrity Solstice, we knew that for Celebrity Equinox, too, nothing less than someone genuinely devoted to the cause would do. And Nina exemplifies that exceptionally,” said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Her tireless efforts have benefited countless women battling breast cancer, and her personal triumph over it has inspired thousands of women, men and families in the UK and beyond.”

In addition to defeating breast cancer herself, Barough’s numerous other life achievements include receiving a CBE for her contributions to health care through the British “New Year Honours” in December 2006. More recently, she was recognized at the “Pride of Britain Awards” (September 2008), where she was named “Fundraiser of the Year.” And in October 2008, Barough was honored once again; this time, with the “Woman of the Year – Outstanding Achievement Award” in recognition of her willpower, spirit and courage.

At today’s naming ceremony on Celebrity Equinox, in what is believed to be an industry first, Celebrity invited sister ship Celebrity Solstice’s Godmother Sharon Smith to participate. Smith took the stage by surprise to Barough, and both joined Fain to cut the ribbon – symbolically, pink, in recognition of breast cancer causes. The ribbon threaded through the ship, ultimately releasing a large bottle of champagne that crashed against the stack atop the ship, signifying the official naming of the vessel. The bottle, too, was symbolic, as it was created by The Corning Museum of Glass, with whom Celebrity struck an alliance in 2008 to create the industry’s first glassblowing show and demonstration at sea. Celebrity Equinox now joins Celebrity Solstice in presenting the typically standing-room-only Hot Glass Show onboard.

Celebrity Equinox enters service July 31 from Southampton on an eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise, then returns to Southampton to embark on the ship’s official maiden voyage departing August 8 for the Mediterranean. The ship will present a series of Mediterranean sailings from Rome (Civitavecchia) through the fall and will offer Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning this winter.

Celebrity Equinox to Offer New Spa and Amenities

July 1, 2009 – When Celebrity Cruises’ newest Solstice-class ship, the 2,850-guest Celebrity Equinox, sets sail for the first time this summer, her sleek exterior and critically acclaimed interior design won’t be the only features raising eyebrows among cruise and travel enthusiasts. Playing off the success of the launch of her sister ship, Celebrity Solstice, the newest vessel in Celebrity’s fleet will also offer AquaClass staterooms designed to offer a soothing, spa-focused ambiance, as well as several indulgent new offerings in the onboard spa.

Celebrity’s AquaClass veranda staterooms, introduced as a Solstice-class exclusive feature last year, are located in close proximity to the ships’ two-story spa, known as “AquaSpa by Elemis.” AquaClass is the only stateroom category in Celebrity’s fleet that offers no third and fourth guest berthing, making the area quieter and more exclusive for guests wishing to relax in an utterly serene environment.

Guests in Celebrity’s AquaClass enjoy a host of spa-inspired amenities and perks. These include unlimited access to the AquaSpa’s Persian Garden aromatherapy steam room, featuring heated ceramic loungers, and the Relaxation Room, which offers stunning vistas from comfortable loungers and a peaceful ambiance. AquaClass guests also enjoy unlimited, complimentary access to the ship’s exclusive, “clean-cuisine” and Mediterranean-influenced specialty restaurant, Blu. The dinner menu features savory appetizers along the lines of roasted beet salad with goat cheese; Mediterranean chopped salad with pita chips and pomegranate vinaigrette; and entrees including blackened ahi tuna, pan-seared filet mignon, and herb-crusted rack of lamb; Blu is also open for breakfast, exclusively for AquaClass and suite guests.

AquaClass guests enjoy in-stateroom amenities that include a pillow menu featuring Swedish Isotonic, body and hypo-allergenic pillows; carafes of unsweetened iced tea; soothing, calming lavender oil in a reed diffuser; and a five-jet shower by Hansgrohe, designed to invigorate and relax. AquaClass guests on Celebrity Solstice have been enjoying the convenience of accessing free, exclusive, on-demand video programming that introduces them to wellness-themed activities such as meditation, yoga, etc., in the comfort of their stateroom.

AquaClass will comprise 130 of the ship’s 1,426 staterooms. A full 85 percent of all staterooms on Celebrity Equinox will have verandas, and all staterooms will be equipped with flat-screen TVs, smarter storage and closet space, spacious bathrooms, and plush European bedding. The ship will offer wireless Internet access throughout.

All guests on Celebrity Equinox are welcome to treat themselves to indulge in the ship’s AquaSpa by Elemis, which will offer its standard line-up of revitalizing, restorative experiences for individuals and couples. Renowned for its exotic therapies focused on beauty and wellness, Celebrity’s AquaSpa – offering full service on all ships except the 92-guest mega-yacht, Celebrity Xpedition, which offers limited options – will offer new treatments on Celebrity Equinox, including an opulent, restorative new treatment: “24-Karat Gold Facial.

The treatment, which uses an alchemy of expert touch, medicinal plants, Rose Quartz and a pure 24-karat gold leaf mask, speeds up cell renewal and results in a rebalanced, nourished, brighter and more clarified skin texture and complexion. The new ship will offer "red carpet make-up" application after every facial in its line-up, featuring a natural touch of Colorscience mineral powder and lip gloss to keep skin and lips glowing.

Guests who experience the 24-Karat Gold Facial on Celebrity Equinox will also be able to enjoy a special cocktail inspired by the treatment itself. The “Golden Kiss Martini” will feature Golden Supreme vodka, cucumber juice, agave syrup and lemon juice, muddled with fresh mint.

Celebrity Equinox will also offer a “lash and brow bar,” where guests can add glamour to their look by selecting from a variety of eyelash enhancements, offered in three styles: Natural Lashes, Evening Eyes or Ultra Glam, which features a sparkling touch of glitter. Brow sculpting will be offered by expert aestheticians who carefully shape and define the eyebrows to give the face an instant lift and a polished appearance. Brow tinting, which can cover gray hairs or enhance one’s natural look, will be available in various shades. Lash tinting, ideal for guests whose eyelashes are light in color, will also be available.Celebrity Equinox’s AquaSpa will offer a full slate of massages, wraps, couples treatments, rituals and facials. The ship also offers men’s barber services, including traditional barber shaves.

Celebrity also presents a comprehensive slate of “medi-spa” offerings onboard. As the first cruise line to offer onboard acupuncture, Celebrity will continue to offer this popular treatment on Celebrity Equinox, in a space located within the AquaSpa. Celebrity Equinox will also offer BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, which soften fine lines and wrinkles to result in a more youthful appearance; Restylane and Perlane treatments, Elemis Oxydermy facials and teeth whitening.

A full-service fitness center, located in the AquaSpa area of the ship, will offer guests the option to exercise on state-of-the-art equipment at their own pace or participate in group fitness classes. An outdoor walking/jogging track gives guests the opportunity to take in the sea air while staying healthy. Celebrity also offers guests the option to purchase personal training services onboard.

The 122,000-gross-registered-tons Celebrity Equinox is scheduled to enter service July 31 from Southampton, England, on an eight-night cruise through the majestic Norwegian Fjords, followed by a series of romantic Mediterranean sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, beginning August 8.Like Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox will present guests with brand-defining, industry-first features, including a half-acre Lawn Club with real, growing grass; a glassblowing show and studio developed and presented in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass; 10 unrivaled dining venues, and widely varied entertainment, including shows with breathtaking aerial acts.

Celebrity Equinox Godmother Raises $85 Million For Breast Cancer Research

June 25, 2009 – Celebrity Cruises today announced that Nina Barough, CBE (Commander of the British Empire), founder of the UK-based charity, “Walk the Walk,” will serve as Godmother of Celebrity Equinox, the second in Celebrity’s lauded Solstice Class fleet.

Barough will officially name the ship in Southampton, England, during the formal naming ceremony July 29, culminating in a large bottle of champagne custom-made by The Corning Museum of Glass crashing against the hull of the 2,850-guest ship.

Celebrity selected Barough in recognition of her fervent devotion to raising awareness of breast cancer and her tremendous success in raising funds for the cause – $85-million to-date – through Walk the Walk’s “SunWalks” and “MoonWalks.” The four annual marathon walks in London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Newcastle attract thousands of women typically clad in decorated bras – the signature apparel for most participants. A fair number of men also participate in the walks.

“Nina is an outstanding leader, business person, and fundraiser, but what is perhaps most impressive, and certainly most inspiring, is her tireless devotion to breast cancer causes,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman of Celebrity Cruises and Chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We are honored to have as Godmother of Celebrity Equinox someone whose work has benefited so many battling breast cancer, and whose personal triumph over the disease has inspired and encouraged thousands of women, men and families in the UK and beyond,” said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan.A breast cancer survivor herself, Barough’s numerous other life achievements include receiving a CBE for her contributions to health care through the British “New Year Honours” in December 2006. More recently, she was recognized at the “Pride of Britain Awards” (September 2008), where she was named “Fundraiser of the Year.” And in October 2008, Barough was honored once again; this time, with the “Woman of the Year – Outstanding Achievement Award” in recognition of her willpower, spirit and courage.

“I am extremely excited to serve as this fantastic ship’s Godmother, and look forward to presiding over such a meaningful and celebratory ceremony,” said Barough. “I feel blessed to be given this opportunity to raise the profile of our charity through my association with Celebrity Cruises, and very honored to name a vessel as gorgeous as Celebrity Equinox.”

Celebrity Equinox enters service July 31 from Southampton on an eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise, then returns to Southampton to embark on the ship’s official maiden voyage departing August 8 for the Mediterranean. The ship will present a series of Mediterranean sailings from Rome (Civitavecchia) through the fall and will offer Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning this winter.

New Celebrity Equinox Emerges From Shipyard

June 8, 2009 – Celebrity Equinox saw daylight for the first time Saturday, June 6, during her official "docking out" from Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The 2,850-guest ship is the second in Celebrity's widely heralded Solstice Class fleet.

Celebrity Equinox will sail from Papenburg down the River Ems June 19 or 20, depending on the winds and tides, and following various provisioning activities, sea trials and inspections, will host a series of invitation-only special events for press, travel agents and consumers from Southampton, England, from July 23 until entering service July 31. Celebrity Equinox will present a series of “Ancient Empires” and other European itineraries from Southampton and Rome this summer, followed by 10- and 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean” cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning in November.

Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 "Top Cruise Ships in the World" in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2009 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet – including the new Celebrity Solstice – will be joined by Celebrity Equinox this year, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012.

Celebrity Cruise Offers Discounts on the New Celebrity Equinox and Solstice

March 23, 2009 – Celebrity Cruises just made its already-enticing Europe cruises that much more irresistible. Beginning today, Celebrity Solstice, the most widely heralded ship to enter the market in 2008, and eagerly anticipated sister ship, Celebrity Equinox, present unprecedented pricing for European vacations on the dynamic duo, along with a special, limited offer: Guests who book any Celebrity Solstice or Celebrity Equinox 2009 Europe cruise between March 23 and April 1, 2009, will receive a discount coupon for up to $500 toward a Celebrity vacation in 2010.

“There has never been a better time to enjoy a European vacation, and no better ships on which to experience it than Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “When you consider all that these ships have to offer – from the stunningly beautiful hotel environment to the spectacular service to the extraordinary cuisine – then try to match that combination on land, the value of what we’re offering is abundantly clear.” With 10 extraordinary dining venues; a half-acre Lawn Club with real, growing grass; live glassblowing shows; hip nightclubs; distinctive entertainment, and an overall style and design that countless press have described as “dazzling,” “breathtaking” and “stunning,” Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox offer enough that guests could be tempted to never get off the ship. But on the line’s itineraries featuring some of the most attractive, culturally rich destinations in Europe, they probably will. Among the incredible destinations are Santorini, Mykonos and Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Istanbul and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; and Naples/Capri, Italy, on Celebrity Solstice’s 10- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Rome (Civitavecchia), from May 4 through November 20, 2009. Fares start at $1,249 per person.

Celebrity Equinox, one of the newest ships to sail in Europe, meets “Ancient Empires” on 13-night voyages from August 18 through October 23, 2009, roundtrip from Rome (Civitavecchia), with visits to Naples/Capri; Athens (Piraeus) and Rhodes, Greece; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Haifa and Ashdod, Israel, and Alexandria, Egypt. Fares begin at $2,099 per person.

Celebrity Equinox also will present a 10-night “Best of Europe” itinerary departing from Southampton, England, August 8, 2009, with visits to Paris (Le Havre) and Cherbourg, France; Barcelona, Cartagena and Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Gibraltar, U.K.; and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, with fares beginning at $2,399 per person.

Celebrity will provide a discount coupon for each stateroom reservation made during the eligible booking window good toward any 2010 Celebrity vacation of seven nights or more in length, with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition cruises and holiday sailings.

New Celebrity Equinox to Be Delivered Early.

Photo Copyright: MeyerWerft Shipyard. Celebrity Equinox under Construction.

Amidst ongoing rave reviews of its new Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Cruises today announced that the pace of construction of sister ship Celebrity Equinox is proceeding so well, the cruise line will offer a soft launch prior to the ship's maiden voyage of August 8.

The eagerly anticipated Celebrity Equinox will now present a cruise departing July 31 through the majestic Norwegian Fjords, roundtrip from Southampton, England. Celebrity paired the news with a special offer to guests booked on Celebrity Equinox’s inaugural sailing of August 8, inviting them to combine their 10-night “Best of Europe” cruise with the 8-night soft launch, for a spectacular 18-night voyage on the new ship. Guests capitalizing on the opportunity will receive an onboard credit of $200 per stateroom or $300 per suite. The 8-night cruise through the Norwegian Fjords features visits to Stavanger, Flam, Geiranger, and Oslo, Norway. The 10-night maiden voyage, which will include an inaugural gift and commemorative activities, will visit Paris/Normandy (via Le Havre) and Cherbourg, France; Vigo, Cartagena and Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal, and Gibraltar, UK, ending in Rome (via Civitavecchia), Italy.

Guests on every sailing of Celebrity Equinox will experience the series of brand-defining, industry-first attributes that guests, travel agents and press have praised about Celebrity Solstice, including a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass, unrivaled dining venues offering trendsetting cuisine and design, and widely varied entertainment, including spectacular new shows in partnership with Poet Theatricals. The 2,850-guest vessel also will have spacious staterooms and bathrooms, and several categories of accommodations, including Celebrity’s new, spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms.

Bookings are now open for the new 8-night cruise on Celebrity Equinox.